Hi Ron,
Well, here's a topic I guess I should know something about having gone
cross country twice in it.
><snip>
>Tires are new, steering
>has the minimum 1" of play,
I guess I would stop right there. I have a 14.5" diameter steering wheel on
mine and I have approx 1/2" max play. Of course, this is after I had the
steering box worked on and the idler box bearing and shaft replaced. (Thanks
Les and Barrie) A little play here can make things seem very sloppy very
quickly. I remember I let Tom Walter drive it when I stopped by his place in
Texas and he was surprised I could drive it at all.
The drive out was a "white knuckle" experience all the way and each time a
semi blew by it was a real gut test. It felt more like I was nursing the car
back to the center of the lane rather than driving it there.
In addition, a road with a good crown on it was also an interesting
experience. Caster, as I recall, will make the car tend to want to steer
uphill, but I guess all the slop in the linkage just made it wander all
over.
>computer alignment is the best the shop could
>do. Camber is .2deg left, .9deg right. Caster is 1.5deg left, 1.2deg
>right. Toe is -.01deg left, .07deg right. This is very close to spec.
Won't comment on that. I know I had a little more aggressive alignment than
normal (or so I was told) but I don't have the figures in front of me so
I'll pass on further comment.
>So why at 65 to 70 do I fell like its not stable?? Is it just that I have
>forgotten how much a small 2000lb car can be blown around or do I need more
>adjustment???
Winds can still be felt but nothing like before.
>The tech said he could adjust it more but that I would get
>more tire wear. Should these roadsters cruise at 70 with very little
>steering adjustment
Yes!!!
or do you need to be
>correcting for wind and road continually at speeds over 55 ???
No!!!
I love the
>car it is a hoot to drive and at 45 to 55 its one hand and relaxed. At 70
>its two hands and not relaxed which on a long trip could prove very tiring
>and frustrating. Feed back please.
I find it's as much fun at 70+ now as it is at 55. However, I do use two
hands at those speeds just because it's a good idea and not because I feel
like I have to.
I'd check all the linkage joints for play especially the idler box on the
passenger side.
Good Luck and have a safe trip.
Tom (road warrior) P
PS. 500 miles for a roadster is a snap. It'll do it without even breathing
hard. The driver, on the other hand, is another story.
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